A new lease on life

By Sue Ready

Janine Zitzow has discovered a team where they care for their patients like family — Hanger Clinic in Brainerd. They work together to offer the latest orthotic and prosthetic technology with specialized training. Janine’s more than 10-year association with the clinic has been what she termed a “game changer” offering her a new lease on life and empowering potential she didn’t realize could be possible.

Hanger Clinic is a national business with more than 900 locations, one being in Brainerd. Their clinicians go to outreach locations including Bemidji, Crosby, Aitkin, Long Prairie and Wadena. Hanger Clinic has been serving the area since 1998. They are committed to bringing you the latest innovative orthotic and prosthetic technologies, specialty training and superior care.

Over the years with Janine’s association with the clinic, she has developed a solid and trusting relationship with the staff for their evaluations and consultations and with Rachel Barness, a certified prosthetist-orthotist with over a decade of experience. One of the most rewarding things about Rachel’s job is, “Seeing the light in the patients’ eyes when they realize their goals are possible or when their pain drops while using a device that we fit. The field of orthotics and prosthetics can be a game changer and we get a front row seat,” she said.

In December 2013 Janine had a fall that caused back issues. She was doctoring herself January through July 2014, and as the nerve issue developed, so did a drop foot. In January 2015 she had surgery for two level fusions. By the time the surgery came, her doctor told her the vertebrae was shifting and was pinching the nerve for her left leg. They said if they wait much longer for surgery, she may ultimately be confined to a wheelchair.

For a year after surgery, Janine spent time trying to get her leg to function better. At one point she went to Courage Kenny Foundation and Big Stone Therapy for rehab to work through the chronic pain. But when the issues weren’t resolved, her doctor suggested Hanger Clinic for bracing. Janine was grateful for the referral as her association with the staff and clinician Rachel proved to be the needed shift in recuperation. They became a team working together to develop the best possible orthotic outcome. Janine found the clinic innovative and willing to explore new options. She noted, “They invested a lot of time to help me. I feel validated working with the Hanger team with my battles and struggles. They were willing to listen. My appointments sometimes lasted 2-3 hours long with consultations and videos.”

Janine first started with an ankle-footorthosis, or AFO, which is a brace worn on the lower leg that improves overall alignment, walking safety and efficiency for people with certain weaknesses/ instabilities at the ankle and foot. This brace was meant to correct her gait, but it did not work as effectively as hoped. When the C-Brace became available, Janine found it to be a life altering event. And she has had the distinction of being the first person in the Brainerd area to try it and be fit with it. The C-Brace is a microprocessor KAFO (MPKAFO) that employs a system of sensors to understand the user’s movements and intentions, allowing the user to lock and unlock their knee while also controlling the ankle. This eliminates the “robotic feel” that comes with traditional KAFOs, which often inhibit motion by locking the knee. These sensors continuously monitor motions and adjust the hydraulic resistances at the knee joint in real time. This provides unparalleled support and freedom during various activities, such as walking, climbing stairs, or even standing. Its ability to adapt to different terrains and walking speeds sets the MPKAFO apart, showing in studies to significantly reduce falls with its “stumble recovery” ability. Whether navigating through rocky trails or strolling on flat surfaces, the brace’s intuitive system adjusts accordingly to offer the optimum level of stability. It runs on a lithium battery that needs to be recharged every day and there is an app for your phone that controls a variety of functions and adjustments. It took Janine’s leg six months to adjust to this brace, however the C-Brace provides immediate benefits and opens doors to a more active, comfortable, and fulfilling life for individuals facing mobility challenges.

Janine has been given a new lease on life. “Now I can feel comfortable in a variety of settings without anxiety build-up. I am more comfortable with my mobility for shopping, walking my dogs and going to concerts. My strides are longer without having to use a walker or a cane.”

Janine has now felt comfortable enough to return to the work force a few days a week.

“Getting this C-Brace has been a life changing event for me mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. I could not have done it without the support of the Hanger Clinic and clinician Rachel Barness,” she said.